Friday, September 26, 2008

I've never been a big baseball kind of guy, but it's not that hard to get caught up in all the playoff hype surrounding the Brewers. We flew over Miller Park just before the game last night. All I had was my point and shoot camera but I still thought this was a cool shot.

Monday, September 22, 2008

No I didn't get a makeover, but the video might be just as interesting as if I had.On a ride last week, I saw an SUV that I called the police about last spring. I've only seen one other vehicle that I've complained about after the initial complaint so I was very interested to see how the driver would pass me this time. You can see for yourself below. The first video is the before from March of this year and the second is from last week, September of this year.

Later in the ride I had 2 late teen to early 20 something guys in a sports car behind me going up a hill. They waited until the top of the hill so they could see around me to pass and as they did I gave them a wave to say thanks and they gave me a wave and a thumbs up. So some progress is being made. The close pass later in the ride by a Ford Focus still points to the fact that work needs to be done, but every little bit helps. At least this one SUV driver seems to have gotten the message. Thanks to Officer Morris of the New Berlin Police Department. I don't know what she told the driver, but it seems to have worked.BikesaferJeff

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The back of the tandem that is. It's my view during the Chequamegan Fat Tire 40. Actually the camera got a better angle than I did. It was on the top of my helmet so it was higher. If I wanted to see anything I had to lean one way or the other. EnjoyBikesaferJeff

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Just got back from the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. It was my first time and I made the podium. Yes I know I'm wearing the "wrong" jersey according to some of my teammates. Let's just say that I was brought up off the Alterra practice squad for one race. Seriously since Mike Owens of Alterra is the reason I was able to ride this race I figured the least I could do was wear his colors (and my former colors) on the box.

We did the tandem category, as he usually does. I don't usually do the tandem. It was my 4th time on a tandem and the second time off road on one. It was fun but a very different experience going 40mph down a hill with a wet grassy muddy corner at the bottom and no brakes or steering. Mike did a great job keeping us upright . I've been on the front end of a tandem too and it ain't easy muscling that thing around. It's like pedaling a school bus.

Congrats to all the Expo and Alterra peeps who did the race and did very well.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I found this column about a dangerous stretch of road in Ohio, and the cyclists who ride there. Unfortunately the title of the column is " Bicyclists should do their part for safety ". I believe cyclists should do their part for safety, but the greatest threat many cyclists face is not under their control.

Late in the column one cyclist says a 3 foot law, (like we have in Wisconsin), would help make cyclists safer. He points out that the Ohio legislature was working on a bill that would require patrons at strip clubs to stay at least 6 feet from strippers. He believes cyclists should get at least some protection from the legislature, even if it is only half the protection strippers get from their customers. The columnist says " That would help, but only if the driver can see the bicyclist and has time to react."

I say it might help but only if you can convince the authorities to enforce the law once it takes effect.

Monday, September 8, 2008

After a week of vacation on Sanibel Island where the only riding I did was on a rented beach cruiser with a basket and handlebars that had me sitting more upright than a toddler in a high chair, I'm back on the road in a normal riding position. My brother in law was kidding me that if I tried to ride the cruiser in a semi-tuck, (with my hands on the center of the bars by the basket), the locals would run us off the island.

Well we managed to stay on the Island most of the week. We went swimming, boogie boarding, windsurfing, saw alligators, spiders, snakes, dolphins, a whole bunch of different birds, and more dragonflies than I've ever seen in one place, but the highlight had to be kayaking with a family of manatees. They came right up to us and bumped right into our kayaks. I can't wait to try windsurfing again, but for now it's back into the familiar tuck position to get enough road miles to feel somewhat ready for the rest of the races this year.